WWE Files Motion In Fan Injury Lawsuit

WWE

WWE has filed a motion to change the venue of a recently filed lawsuit that relates to a fan incident in July 2022.

In March 2024, Richard Bryant filed a lawsuit against WWE alleging that he suffered injuries at a SmackDown taping in Orlando, Florida that took place in July 2022.

Bryant alleges that his injuries were a result of the “negligence and carelessness” of WWE, claiming they failed to:

“Adequately warn of the dangers of pyrotechnics, failed to test the effect of pyrotechnics on the premises, failed to operate the pyrotechnics with reasonable care, failed to hire, select, train and supervise reasonably competent employees, failed to implement and enforce reasonable policies and procedures for the safe use of pyrotechnics, failed to use ordinary care in the administration of pyrotechnics, failed to warn Plaintiff of the potential effects of use of pyrotechnics, any and all other acts determined to be negligent or grossly by the tier of fact.”

In the lawsuit, Bryant goes on to list the alleged injuries he suffered at WWE SmackDown, claiming:

“Traumatic rupture of his right ear drum, bilateral tinnitus, hearing loss in his right ear, psychological harm.”

The injuries are noted as being potentially permanent, going on to claim that Bryant has incurred and will likely incur future medical expenses for his treatment.

In addition to these injuries, Bryant also alleges he needed to be “non-weight-bearing” for a period, needing crutches and a boot to “limit motion and pain and to promote healing in the left foot.”

The foot injury will, according to the lawsuit, likely require surgical fusion and he is unable to carry out the athletic and physical activities he could participate in “prior to the collision”, although it’s not clear where this collision took place and how it relates to the above list of hearing-based injuries.

According to PW Insider, WWE has filed a motion to have the civil lawsuit “moved from the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Stamford, to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, which would be federal jurisdiction” as the company and the plaintiff are in different states.

Bryant is claiming $15,000 in damages from WWE for the injuries he alleges to have sustained.

WrestleTalk will provide further details as/when they become available.

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• Richard Bryant
• lawsuit
• Smackdown
• wwe

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